Three years ago, Alex posted about the discovery of a 3,000-year old shoe. It was then thought to be the oldest ever found. Now archaeologists have found one about 5,500-years old in a cave in Armenia:

Stuffed with grass, perhaps as an insulator or an early shoe tree, the 5,500-year-old moccasin-like shoe was found exceptionally well preserved—thanks to a surfeit of sheep dung—during a recent dig in an Armenian cave.

About as big as a current women's size seven (U.S.), the shoe was likely tailor-made for the right foot of its owner, who could have been a man or a woman—not enough is known about Armenian feet of the era to say for sure.

Made from a single piece of cowhide—a technique that draws premium prices for modern shoes under the designation "whole cut"—the shoe is laced along seams at the front and back, with a leather cord.

There's a comment on its design from fashion mogul Manolo Blahnik at the link.

You Turks have nothing but bad things to say about others. You need to get civilized and admit to your Evil History. Committing Genocide is regular practice for you ignorant Turks. Why can't you Turks learn to get along with others and be civilized? The longer you hide the truth the harsher the punishment for your continued ethnic cleansing. You will be brought to Justice very soon.

Had he not lost his shoe in a pile of sheep dip, we would never have come across this discovery. His loss was our gain. Kinda feel bad for him though, I'm sure they took quite some time and effort to make.